Amherstburg council approves tax increase

Town council approved Monday a 5.51 per cent municipal tax increase and five per cent increases to both water and waste water rates for 2013.

By Windsor StarMarch 5, 2013

Town council approved Monday a 5.51 per cent municipal tax increase and five per cent increases to both water and waste water rates for 2013.

In his report to council, treasurer Paul Beneteau said for a homeowner with property assessed at $200,000, the 2013 tax rate would mean about an $86 increase in the municipal portion of this year's tax bill over the 2012 bill.

The 5.51 per cent includes one per cent contributions to both a working capital reserve and a life cycle replacement reserve - adding up to $158,368 each for the year.

When the county tax rate increase of 2.4 per cent and the education tax rate decrease of 8.23 per cent are factored in with the municipal rate, Beneteau said Amherstburg taxpayers can expect a 2.38 per cent overall increase.

That works out to $68 or a net tax bill for a $200,000 residential property works of $2,920.80 for 2013, up from the 2012 annual amount of $2,852.83.

Citing a number of "stressors," including contractual obligations to police and town employees, Coun. John Sutton commended administration on the operational budget portion of less than one per cent.

Sutton said the municipal portion includes "much needed capital and long overdue capital projects that our residents have asked for."

Referring to it as a "real watershed moment," Sutton said the implementation of the working capital reserve and the life cycle reserve will "help us with less reliance on long-term debt financing" by putting away money for capital assets and will have a "stabilizing effect" on future budgets.

Council agreed to maintain a policy of five per cent increases in water and waste water rates over a five-year period beginning in 2011.

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